Cause of “Page Has Expired” error

JimOfAllTrades · April 9, 2009, 4:28am

One of my customers is running a website using IIS 5 on Windows 2000 server, all pages are ASP (classic, not .net) and the backend is MSSQL.

They have an online test that customers who have been through a training course must complete in order to become certified. This means 102 questions in random order, presented one at a time. They purchased the test taking ASP scripts from a third party, inserted their header graphic and put it up. So this isn’t code I’m familiar with, and I’m not an ASP expert or even much of an HTML guy anyway.

Most people taking the test are having no problem, but a few are reporting that at some point during the test they suddenly receive the “Page Has Expired” error in stead of the next question. Our testing hasn’t been able to duplicate the error.

The main script (the one that displays the questions one after the other) uses a couple of session variables, a couple of parameters passed after the URL via querystring, and some form data passed via request.form. My understanding is that the “Page Has Expired” means that the form data has expired. But I don’t know why that would be.

Any suggestions? I’ll paste the code from the page below in case anyone wants to sort through it.


 <%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT"%>
<html>
<head>
<title>Question <%= row %></title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<script language=JavaScript>
<!--

//Disable right mouse click Script
//By Maximus (maximus@nsimail.com) w/ mods by DynamicDrive
//For full source code, visit http://www.dynamicdrive.com

var message="Function Disabled!";

///////////////////////////////////
function clickIE4(){
if (event.button==2){
alert(message);
return false;
}
}

function clickNS4(e){
if (document.layers||document.getElementById&&!document.all){
if (e.which==2||e.which==3){
alert(message);
return false;
}
}
}

if (document.layers){
document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
document.onmousedown=clickNS4;
}
else if (document.all&&!document.getElementById){
document.onmousedown=clickIE4;
}

document.oncontextmenu=new Function("alert(message);return false")

// --> 
</script></head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<table width="100%">
	<tr>
    	<td align="center"><br>
			<img src="../home/CertificationImages/546-certification-test.gif" width="546" height="39" />
		</td>
  	</tr>
        <tr>
          <td width="100%" height="520" valign="top">

<div align="center">
<!--NOTE: Changed width to 100% from 80% to display questions with best word wrap-->
  <table width="100%">
<%
dsEmail = Request.QueryString("dsEmail")

dim row
dim tmpArray
row = Request.Form("row")
total = Request.Form("total")
' response.write("row = " & row & "total = " & total & "befor check answer<br>")
if Request.Form("answer") = "next" then
       tmpArray = Session("test_answers")
       mark_array = session("marks")
	   tmpArray(4,row) = ""
       tmpArray(6,row) = ""
       tmpArray(8,row) = ""
       tmpArray(10,row) = ""
       tmpArray(12,row) = ""
	   if request.form("radio_answer") = "a1" then
		  tmpArray(4,row) = true
	   end if
	   if request.form("radio_answer") = "a2" then
	      tmpArray(6,row) = true
	   end if
	   if request.form("radio_answer") = "a3" then
	      tmpArray(8,row) = true
	   end if
	   if request.form("radio_answer") = "a4" then
	      tmpArray(10,row) = true
	   end if
	   if request.form("radio_answer") = "a5" then
	      tmpArray(12,row) = true
	   end if
	 if Request.Form("a1") = "yes" then
		tmpArray(4,row) = true
	 end if
	 if Request.Form("a2") = "yes" then
	    tmpArray(6,row) = true
	 end if
	 if Request.Form("a3") = "yes" then
	    tmpArray(8,row) = true
	 end if
	 if Request.Form("a4") = "yes" then
	    tmpArray(10,row) = true
	 end if
	 if Request.Form("a5") = "yes" then
	    tmpArray(12,row) = true
	 end if
	 if Request.Form("mark") = 1 then
	    mark_array(row) = 1
     end if
     if request.form("short_answer") > "" then
	   tmpArray(20,row) = request.form("short_answer") 
	 end if 
	 Session("test_answers") = tmpArray
	 session("marks") = mark_array
     row = row + 1
row = row + 0
total = total + 0
end if
if row = total then  ' um I think im counting 0 to 1 less total not sure
 ' response.write("redirect to grade total is: " & Request.Form("total") )
      'this = "opn_pre_grade.asp?test=" & Request.QueryString("test")
	  this = "opn_grade.asp?test=" & Request.QueryString("test") & "&" & "dsEmail=" & Request.QueryString("dsEmail")
  Response.Redirect(this)
end if
%>    <form name="form1" method="post" action="<%= "opn_questions.asp?test=" & Request.QueryString("test") %>&dsEmail=<%=dsEmail%>">
      <% 

alldata = Session("alldata")
numcols=request.form("numcols")
numrows=request.form("numrows")

' 0 = record number
' 1 = test_name, 2 = question, 3 = answer1, 4 =a1
' 5 answer2 6 a2, 7-8 q3 9-10 q4 11-12 q5

'  if you want to show table change to true table nice for trouble shooting
show_full = false
if show_full = true then
  FOR rowcounter= 0 TO numrows
     response.write "<tr>" & vbcrlf
     FOR colcounter=0 to numcols
        thisfield=alldata(colcounter,rowcounter)
        if isnull(thisfield) then
           thisfield=shownull
        end if
        if trim(thisfield)="" then
           thisfield=showblank
        end if
        response.write "<td valign=top>" 
        response.write thisfield
        response.write "</td>" & vbcrlf
     NEXT
     response.write "</tr>" & vbcrlf
  NEXT
  response.write "</table>" 
end if

answer_num = 0
if alldata(4,row) = true then
   answer_num = answer_num + 1
end if
if alldata(6,row)  = true then
   answer_num = answer_num + 1
end if
if alldata(8,row)  = true then
   answer_num = answer_num + 1
end if
if alldata(10,row)  = true then
   answer_num = answer_num + 1
end if
if alldata(12,row)  = true then
   answer_num = answer_num + 1
end if
%>
<% If answer_num = 1 then %>
	  <!-- NOTE: REMOVE MARK CHECKBOX NOT NEEDED
      <tr><td><div align="left">Mark 
            <input type="checkbox" name="mark" value="1">
          </div></td></tr>-->
      <tr> 
        <td >
<b><%= (row+1) & ") " & alldata(2,row) %></b></td>
</tr><tr><td><%
if alldata(13,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(13,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(22,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(22,row) & "' autostart='true'>"
end if
%></td></tr>
      
      <% if not (alldata(3,row)  = "n/a") then %>
	  <tr> 
        <td >a) 
            <input type="radio" name="radio_answer" value="a1">
            <%=(alldata(3,row) )%> 
            <%
if alldata(14,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(14,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(23,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(23,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
	  </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(5,row)  = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >b) 
            <input type="radio" name="radio_answer" value="a2">
            <%=(alldata(5,row) )%> 
            <%
if alldata(15,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(15,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(24,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(24,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(7,row)  = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >c) 
            <input type="radio" name="radio_answer" value="a3">
            <%=(alldata(7,row) )%> 
            <%
if alldata(16,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(16,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(25,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(25,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(9,row)  = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >d) 
            <input type="radio" name="radio_answer" value="a4">
            <%=(alldata(9,row) )%> 
            <%
if alldata(17,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(17,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(26,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(26,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(11,row)  = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >e) 
            <input type="radio" name="radio_answer" value="a5">
            <%=(alldata(11,row) )%> 
            <%
if alldata(18,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(18,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(27,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(27,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <tr> 
        <td> <p> </p></td>
      </tr>
<% 
end if
if answer_num > 1 then
 %>
 	  <!-- NOTE: REMOVE MARK CHECKBOX NOT NEEDED
      <tr><td><div align="left">Mark 
            <input type="checkbox" name="mark" value="1">
          </div></td></tr>-->
      <tr> 
        <td ><div align="right"> </div>
          <%=( (row+1) & ") " & alldata(2,row))%></td>
      </tr>
	  <tr><td><%
if alldata(13,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(13,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(22,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(22,row) & "' autostart='true'>"
end if
%></td></tr>

      <% if not (alldata(3,row) = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >a) 
            <input type="checkbox" name="a1" value="yes">
            <%=(alldata(3,row))%> 
          <%
if alldata(14,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(14,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(23,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(23,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(5,row) = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >b) 
            <input type="checkbox" name="a2" value="yes">
            <%=(alldata(5,row))%> 
          <%
if alldata(15,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(15,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(24,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(24,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(7,row) = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >c) 
            <input type="checkbox" name="a3" value="yes">
            <%=(alldata(7,row))%> 
          <%
if alldata(16,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(16,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(25,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(25,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(9,row) = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >d) 
            <input type="checkbox" name="a4" value="yes">
            <%=(alldata(9,row))%> 
          <%
if alldata(17,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(17,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(26,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(26,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <% if not (alldata(11,row) = "n/a") then %>
      <tr> 
        <td >e) 
            <input type="checkbox" name="a5" value="yes">
            <%=(alldata(11,row))%> 
          <%
if alldata(18,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(18,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(27,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(27,row) & "'>"
end if
%></td>
      </tr>
      <% end if %>
      <tr> 
        <td> <p> </p></td>
      </tr> <%
end if
if answer_num = 0 then
%>
	  <!-- NOTE: REMOVE MARK CHECKBOX NOT NEEDED
      <tr><td><div align="left">Mark 
            <input type="checkbox" name="mark" value="1">
          </div></td></tr>-->
      <tr> 
        <td >
<%= (row+1) & ") " & alldata(2,row) %></td>
</tr><tr><td><%
if alldata(13,row) > "" then
   response.write "<img src='pictures/" & alldata(13,row) & "'>"
end if
if alldata(22,row) > "" then
   response.write "<EMBED src='sound/" & alldata(22,row) & "' autostart='true'>"
end if
%></td></tr>
<tr>
        <td>Short Answer = 
          <input type="text" name="short_answer"></td>
      </tr>
<%  
end if %>

<% 'NOTE: ADD THIS FOR FINAL QUESTION BUTTON
if (row) = (total - 2) then %>
      <tr> 
        <td><input type="submit" name="Submit3" value="LAST Question"><br><br><b><font color="blue">You are Almost Done!</font></b></td>
      </tr>
      <input type="hidden" name="answer" value="next">
      <input type="hidden" name="row" value="<%= row %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="total" value="<%= Request.Form("total") %>" >
      <input type="hidden" name="numrows" value="<%= numrows %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="numcols" value="<%= numcols %>">
    </form>
<% elseif (row) = (total - 1) then %>
      <tr> 
        <td><input type="submit" name="Submit2" value="Grade Test"><br><br><b><font color="blue">Answer this Question and Test is Completed.<br>Then, Click Grade Test Button for Results.</font></b></td>
      </tr>
      <input type="hidden" name="answer" value="next">
      <input type="hidden" name="row" value="<%= row %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="total" value="<%= Request.Form("total") %>" >
      <input type="hidden" name="numrows" value="<%= numrows %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="numcols" value="<%= numcols %>">
    </form>
<% else %>
      <tr> 
        <td><input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Next Question"></td>
      </tr>
      <input type="hidden" name="answer" value="next">
      <input type="hidden" name="row" value="<%= row %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="total" value="<%= Request.Form("total") %>" >
      <input type="hidden" name="numrows" value="<%= numrows %>">
      <input type="hidden" name="numcols" value="<%= numcols %>">
    </form>
<% end if %>
  </table>
</div>
</td></tr></table>
</body>
</html>
<!--#include file="test_close.asp" -->

Imasquare · April 9, 2009, 10:01am

In ASP the session will expire automatically if no input occurs for 20 minutes. Are your users leaving the page inactive for that long?

You can set a longer timeout period like this:

<%
Session.Timeout=60
%>

This will set the timeout period to 60 minutes. Have a look at ASP Session object for a good overview of session timeouts.

LSLGuy · April 9, 2009, 3:22pm

there is also a setting in iis manager (at least for v6+) under the application settings

JimOfAllTrades · April 9, 2009, 4:07pm

We found the setting in IIS and bumped it from the default 20 minutes up to two hours a couple of days ago. We’re still getting reports of the occasional error.

Honestly I can’t imagine that people were sitting on one questions for even 20 minutes, let alone 2 hours, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to increase the default time.

Also, we’ve searched the code and can’t find any instances of a session timeout command that is overriding the default timeout setting.

Any other suggestions for an ASP newbie?

Markxxx · April 9, 2009, 4:37pm

If you can’t find the answer here try Dynamic Drive Forums, they are very helpful with coding, and I’ve never asked a question they have failed to help me with

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